Saturday, February 23, 2013

William Rhett house built in 1712, one of the oldest houses in Charleston.

Cobblestone streets and sidewalks are hard to walk on.

St Johannesburg Lutheran Church established in 1878.

Since 1670 Charleston has been a busy port. By 1770 it was the third busiest port in the new world.

Coast Guard helicopter.

We took this boat to Fort Sumter.

Charleston skyline. It is called the Holy City because of the many churches.

Rice plantations. Rice from this state was called Carolina Gold.

Cotton producing states 1801 - 1860.

Slavery was vital for rice, cotton and indigo plantations. Words of Civil War and Disunion were discussed during the working of the Missouri Compromise of 1850.

Dec. 20, 1860 South Carolina voted unanimously to secede from the Union. On Dec. 26, 1860 Federal troops moved to occupy Fort Sumter. In April they were ordered by the Confederates to leave. (33 stars on the U. S. flag of 1860.) They refused.

The first shot of the Civil War was fired on to Fort Sumter on April 14, 1861. After 34 hours of fighting the Union soldiers surrendered and were allowed to withdraw to New York.

This South Carolina flag was raised over Fort Sumter.But soon replaced with the official first Flag of the Confederate, Bars and Stars.

Fort Sumter was the site of battles again. For 22 months from 1863 to 1865 the Union battled the Confederates to take possession of Fort Sumter.